Membership Agreement
By choosing to use the Hiki, Inc. service, you agree that you will abide by our terms of service and safety tips outlined below.
We ask you to read the tips and information below, and strongly urge you to follow these guidelines in the interest of your personal safety and well-being.
Community is everything to us. That means we strictly prohibit bullying, harassment, bigotry, racism, misogyny, ableism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, xenophobia, homophobia, fatphobia, and transphobia.
Everyone’s journey to diagnosis and self-realization is different. Please do not harass users about their diagnosis status, whether they have been professionally diagnosed, self-diagnosed or identified, or exploring a neurodivergent identity.
Respect your fellow users’ privacy. Do not post screenshots of private chats or profile information to the community feed; do not publicly post names or photos of other Hiki users to call out, shame, defame, or harass them; do not allow anyone but you to use or post from your account. Doing so violates the other user’s privacy, poses a safety risk and will result in a ban. If you have concerns about a user’s behavior, report the comment or post, message Hiki Support, and we will investigate.
“No” means no. If a user has asked you to stop contacting them on Hiki or outside of Hiki, respect their boundaries and wishes. Withdrawing consent can happen and can be part of relationship and friendship development. At no point in time are you entitled to another person’s time and attention. Treat others the way you wish to be treated. Failure to do so will result in a permanent ban for harassment.
When in doubt, send us a report. Any and all concerning and suspicious behavior should be reported to Hiki Support. If something feels “off” or you feel uncomfortable, use the tools we’ve provided so that Hiki can launch an investigation or flag a suspicious user or account. Once you’ve submitted a report, we encourage you to block the user.
Online Behavior
Protect Your Finances & Never Send Money or Financial Information
Never ever respond to any request to send money, especially overseas or via wire transfer, and report it to us immediately – even if the person claims to be in an emergency. Wiring money is like sending cash: the sender has no protections against loss and it’s nearly impossible to reverse the transaction or trace the money.
Protect Your Personal Information
Never give personal information, such as: your social security number, credit card number or bank information, or your work or home address to people you don’t know or haven’t met in person.
Be Web Wise
Block and report suspicious users. You can block and report concerns about any suspicious user anonymously at any time on Hiki. Keep conversations on the platform.
Report All Suspicious Behavior
Examples of terms of use violations include, but are not limited to:
- Asking you for money or donations
- Sending and requesting sexually explicit photographs without consent
- Minors using the platform
- Users sending harassing or offensive messages
- Users behaving inappropriately after meeting in person
- Fraudulent registration or profiles
- Spam or solicitation, such as invitations to call 1-900 numbers or attempts to sell products or services
Offline Behavior
First meetings are exciting, but always take precautions and follow these guidelines to help you stay safe:
Get to Know the Other Person
Keep your communications limited to the platform and really get to know users online/using the app before meeting them in person. Bad actors often push people to communicate off the platform immediately. It’s up to you to research and do your due diligence.
Always Meet and Stay in Public
Meet for the first time in a populated, public place – never in a private or remote location, and never at your home or apartment. If your date pressures you, end the date and leave at once.
Tell Your Friends and Family Members of Your Plans
Inform a friend or family member of your plans and when and where you’re going. Make sure you have your cell phone charged and with you at all times.
Arrange Transportation to Safely Get Yourself to and from the Meeting
You need to be independent and in control of your own transportation, especially if things don’t work out.
Stay Sober
Consumption of alcohol and/or other drugs can impair your judgment and potentially put you in danger. Keeping a clear mind and avoiding anything that might place you at risk is important. Be aware that bad actors might try to exploit you by altering your beverage(s) with synthetic substances.
Health
Hiki welcomes everyone and empowers our community of users to create and cultivate relationships. An important aspect of any healthy relationship though – whether formed on Hiki or otherwise – is ensuring proper sexual health and safety and as a member of the Hiki community, it is your responsibility to make sure you do the following, if you choose to engage in sexual activity.
Protect Yourself.
You and your partner should use proper protection. Condoms and other mechanisms can significantly reduce the risk of contracting or passing on an STI, such as HIV. To be effective, however, protective measures must be used consistently. Please keep in mind, you can still get certain STIs, like herpes or HPV from contact with your partner’s skin even when using a condom.
Be Open and Honest
It is completely reasonable to have a conversation with your partner regarding sex and sexual contact before actually having it. All issues ranging from the number of partners each of you has had, to the last time each of you was tested for STIs are fair game. Many STIs are curable or treatable. If either you or your partner has an STI that is curable, you both need to start treatment to avoid becoming re-infected. It is important to be completely honest in these conversations.
Vaccinate
The risk of contracting some STIs can be reduced through vaccination. Talk to your doctor or a professional at a sexual health clinic to learn more.
Know Your Status
Know your status. Some STIs don’t show symptoms. Regular testing is critical to staying on top of your health and helping prevent the spread of STIs. After testing, always ask for a copy of your test results so you are sure of your status. There are many free, quick and confidential testing options - find the best locations near you using Healthvana’s free HIV and STD testing locator.
For Further Help, Support or Advice
In case of imminent danger or if you need emergency aid, dial 911 (U.S. or Canada) or contact your local law enforcement agency. Emergency situations include a recent threat of violence or sexual violence, a recent act of violence or sexual violence, or if your health or someone else’s is in danger.
Although we are working hard behind the scenes to create a safe environment, it’s important to understand that no risk reduction method is foolproof. If you encounter a negative experience, please remember that it is not your fault, and assistance is available. Notify Hiki about any incidents and contemplate seeking support from the resources listed below.
Rape, Abuse and Incest National Hotline
1-800-656-HOPE | www.rainn.org
Planned Parenthood
1-800-230-7526 | www.plannedparenthood.org
National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or 1-800-787-3224 | www.thehotline.org
National Human Trafficking Hotline
1-888-373-7888 or text 233733 I www.humantraffickinghotline.org
National Sexual Violence Resource Center
1-877-739-3895 I www.nsvrc.org
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
1-800-THE-LOST (843-5678) I www.cybertipline.com
Cyber Civil Rights Initiative
1-844-878-2274 I www.cybercivilrights.org
VictimConnect - Crime Victim Resource Center
1-855-4VICTIM (855-484-2846) I www.victimconnect.org
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
LGBT National Help Center
1-888-843-4564 I www.glbtnationalhelpcenter.org
Trans Lifeline
1-877-565-8860 (US) or 1-877-330-6366 (CA) I www.translifeline.org
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Dial 988 (SMS in the US) I www.988lifeline.org